Improvement in methods of marking plug-tobacco



P. H. DUKE. Method of Marking Plug-Tobacco.

4No. 211,719 Y Patentedlan. 28,1879.

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WITNESSES Y' I |NVYENTORy J ATTORNEY.

N4 PETERS, PHOTO-UTHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON, D C,

UNITED STATES PATENT TcE.

PATRICK HENRY DUKE, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR TO THOMAS C. VILLIAMS 85 CO., OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN 'METHODS OF MARKING PLUG-TOBACCO.

Specification forming` part of Letters Patent No. 211,719, dated January 28, 1879; application filed February 28, 1878.

To all 'whom it may concern Be it known that I, PATRICK H. DUKE, of Richmond city, in the county of Henrico and State of Virginia, have invented an Improved `Method of Marking Plugs of Tobacco 5 and l ,2, a similar view of the tobacco-plug, the

marking-strip being removed; Fig. 3, a view of one of the staples by which the markingstrip is attached to the plug 5 Fig. 4, view of a modification of the device.

Like letters designate corresponding parts in all of the figures.

My invention irelates to a strip or ruler attached to the side or face of a plugot' tobacco, and provided with cross indentations or perforations, at regular distances apart, from end to end, to serve as guides to the retailer in cutting off portions of nearly equal and definite weight, the said strip also serving as a distinctive trade-mark, or to bear any trademark oi design which the manufacturer may desire.

Thisstrip or ruler A is conveniently made of pasteboard, but may be made of thick paper, thin Wood, or any other suitable and proper material. It is properly applied lengthwise of the plug B of tobacco, reaching the entire length thereof, or nearly so; and it is divided by cross-markings a a into as many divisions as it is desired to cut the plug by the retailer.

Thus a pound plug of tobacco, as repre sented in the drawings, is suitably divided into sixteen equal divisions, as guides for cutting the plug crosswise into ounce pieces. These cross-markings may be simple cross lines or rows of indentations; but I prefer to puncture rows of small perforations through thc pasteboard, as represented in Fig. l, in order that, as the strip is pressed upon the surface ofthe plug, minute portions of the tobacco may be pressed up into these perforations, thereby assisting to hold the strip upon the plug 5 and in case the strip or part of the strip is removed, or becomes separated from the plug, these little dot projections on the surface of the tobacco may still serve as guides for cutting oft' the plug, as shown at b, Fig. 2.

This strip is also designed to be printed or marked With the names of the manufacturers, as shown, or with any design or peculiarity for a trade-m ark, or both.

The strip is secured to the plug, first, by metallic staples c c-say, of tin-plateone at each end, as shown in Fig. 1, being sufficient. A suitable form of the staples is shown in Fig. 3; but, though preferring this, I may employ some other means of attachment without at'- fecting the main feature of my invention.

After the strip is thus attached to the plug, the latter is put in the mold or mill and receives the usual pressure, which still more securely attaches the strip thereto.

In Fig. 4 is shown a modified form of the perforations in the strip ot' paper. Various other forms may be used; and it is not necessary that the strip A should be continuous. it may be separated into separate strips or pieces.

I do not claim marking plug-tobacco to indicate Where to cut it off for any purpose, or, specially, markings formed by any sort ofindentations in the surface of plug-tobacco, to indicate where to cut it for given quantities; nor the attachment of paper or other labels to plug-tobacco by staples or other means ot' fastening; nor do I claim a measured strip of paper to be rolled up in cloth or similar goods to indicate Where to cut off the goods for given amounts; but

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

As an improvement in the method of marking plug-tobacco, the attachment to each plug of a strip, A, provided with cross perforations or indentations a a atthe desired distances apart, and pressed up'on the plug, so as to form projections on the surface thereof in the said perforations 0r inden-tations, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

The foregoing specification signed by me this 25th day of October, 1877.

PATRICK HENRY DUKE.

Witnesses:

J. RYLAND FLEET, Ro. S. BosHER. 

